Introduction
The most amazing characteristic of Ziplock pouch is the ability in which it possesses to be easily opened by end/final consumers and also reclosed after the first opening to protect the nutritional contents of the product it protects, it’s freshness and flavor.
This service provided by ziplock pouches offers convenience to the end users because after the first opening, the ziplock pouch is not useless, it can be reclosed and not only can it be reclosed, the final consumer also has the confidence in this ziplock pouch that it would most definitely protect the freshness and nutrients of its contents. Apart from the convenience service provided by ziplock, it also has the feature of giving added value. End users/ consumers can confidently return to their product protected by ziplock pouch without the fear of the product getting stale or contaminated.
This also paves way for not only the end users but for manufacturers also not necessarily flexible packaging manufacturers to increase the beer of quantities in which they produce. Manufacturers can increase quantity because of the belief in which ziplock pouch offers them. As it allows them to pack increased quantities of their products because ziplock pouch deals with the problem of only one serving packaging. Whereby once a packaging is torn open, to use its contents, it becomes useless and often gets discarded off when the product has been removed.
Often more than not, this is not the case with Ziplock pouch as it has the feature of getting sealed again after the very first and subsequent numerous use.
Ziplock pouches allay the fear of spillage and premature spoilage I.e products getting spoiled before its expiry date given by the manufacturer/producer. This is so because ziplock pouch gives room for end users to let out the air which might have been trapped in the pouch when it was opened before sealing off the pouch again.
A very wonderful upgrade made to the Ziplock pouch is the introduction of another compartment where more contents can be kept. This feature would be of more benefit to the science-inclined students or laboratory attendants since the paperwork of the specimen in which they work on is placed distinctively away from the specimen to avoid contamination among other reasons.
Ziplock pouch is now becoming a more stronger flexible storage pouch in the hands of flexible packaging manufacturing giants in the industry that are professionals at their jobs. No other packaging style whether rigid or flexible is as strong as the ziplock pouch that is popularly known and widely used whenever there is a need for protection, organization, and repackaging. The locking mechanism of the ziplock pouch is known to be very secure and It has a resealable feature this has made it the most common and accepted style of flexible packaging.
Ziplock pouch comes in a slim, handy and space friendly style that makes it fit well into any place or position it is put in. Whether in kitchens, backpacks, suitcases, trunks of motor vehicles, offices etc. It all depends on wherever the end user decides to put their products.
Chapter 1: What Are Ziplock Pouches?
Often more than not, a Ziplock Pouch is a small reusable, recyclable pouch which can be used, sealed and resealed after being opened numerous times without the contents losing its taste, freshness and nutritional contents. Ziplock pouches always come in different designs, sizes, styles and also dimensions which can be used and reused again for various unlimited purposes. Ziplock bags can be kept in refrigerators to protect frozen meat, vegetables. Ziplock pouch can be used to carry loose change to avoid getting them misplaced. It can also be used to organize supplies whether art supplies or any other supplies such as beads etc. Snacks can also be stored in ziplock pouch and it can also be used in keeping Children’s toys together to avoid losing them. The uses/ benefit of ziplock pouch is endless and limitless. It is often said that once you can think it then you can do it. Impossible is not visible when it comes to making a ziplock pouch.
It is known to all and sundry that ziplock pouch is a subsidiary of stand up pouch which is under the flexible packaging industry. What this means is that ziplock pouch is a type of stand up pouch, while stand up pouch is also a branch of the flexible packaging industry. In this current 21st century it is highly difficult in fact very unlikely not to come across a ziplock type of pouch in any convenience or retail store outlet all over the globe. Everyone would at least come about a ziplock pouch every day without necessarily entering a retail store whether knowingly or unknowingly.
Recently, it was discovered that lots of brand manufacturers under the flexible packaging industry provide services of manufacturing ziplock pouch ranging from the giants in the flexible packaging industry to the upcoming / infant ziplock brands and many more store brands. Ziplock pouch has now generally become a household name. Ziplock pouch can be used to house or protect any item that needs protecting from the air or moist and also any item or content that needs to remain clean and dry can always rely on Ziplock pouch to do the job.
The most embracing news to users of Ziplock pouch is that personal customization is very quick and unbelievably easily nowadays. All that is required is for the end user to get his/her design, style, size and color ready because the ziplock pouch is available in numerous sizes, colors, and types which are readily available for sale and all that is required is just the specifications of the final user and this is what made ziplock pouch customization quick and easy. Every individual as his/her own preferential ziplock stored away in drawers and shelves in their household and place of work.
Chapter 2: Brief History Of Ziplock Pouches.
Just like the case is with any great invention in the world, and innovations /innovative ideas once they make their mark or they are widely established and accepted, it becomes improbable if not impossible to imagine the world if they did not exist. Such inventions include; Airplanes, internet, mobile devices etc. In this case, the device/innovation in which its functionality can never be wiped off the surface of the earth is the Ziplock Pouch.
Though these pouches have not been around since forever, they have however taken over the market now talking about both rigid and flexible packaging style. There are countless uses of these pouches. These small but unique reclosable bags are major user for packing, storing, shipping, shopping, organizing and packaging products. They are now available to end users in diverse varieties of styles, designs, and sizes.
However, they did not just originate from planet Mars it was brought about by someone or at least something. How did Ziplock pouch now develop into the array of products available in the market and know shelves of both major and minor retail outlets in the world?
Long ago in the year 1951, there was a man who went by the name; Borge Madsen. This man was an inventor and in the year 1951, he applied for a patent right for a product which was the plastic slide fastener. This product can be described as the founding fathers/ beginning of the now household name Ziplock pouch. The original design made by Mr. Madsen then was a quite complex one and comparing it with what is reigning currently, that design was more complex. There were two areas which we term as engaging areas, unlike the ziplock pouch we have currently which has just 1. The plastic slide fastener then looked like just an ordinary traditional zipper with a tab, the only difference was that the plastic slide fastener had no teeth and its major component was plastic just like the name implies.
In the same year 1951, another establishment sprouted up and it was named Flexigrip the major and only aim of this company was to develop and later market a product based on the invention of Mr. Borge Madsen after purchasing the patent rights from the inventor in the year 1951 also. The first application was its use in loose-leaf binders and flat briefcases.
The expense of manufacturing this plastic zippers which were styled like tabs was what hindered them from becoming widely known and used by customers all over the world initially. Then there came a man by the name Steven Ausnit who was one of the founding fathers of the popular family-owned company “Flexigrip” and he came up with the idea of a “press and seal” type of zipper. Nowadays this is the type of ziplock pouch fastener commonly used.
Until this particular point, the Flexigrip company had to make do with using heat sealing process to infuse string zipper profile to its film before then converting them into the pouch. The packaging industry called them “post-applied zipper bags” because the zippers were not infused into the original pouch film.
The major step which was taken in the evolution of ziplock pouch came in 1959 when the inventor Ausnit made a discovery about another company which had developed a new and effective manufacturing process that gave room for zipper profiles to be extruded into the polyethylene film from which these pouches are derived. This innovation totally reduced manufacturing expenses and cut it into the half. In the industry, they are called the “integral zipper bags”. Later in the year 1961, Flexigrip was giving the licensing right to this new “integral zipper bags” manufacturing process and this was what brought another company into limelight which is the Minigrip. This company was established to market the new cost friendly ziplock pouch. Initially, the company focused primarily on industrial bags with a trademark of a red color line above the zipper.
Later on, in the year 1964 or thereabouts, mini grip was able to get a licensing agreement which was exclusive with Dow Chemical Company to market Zip Lock pouch through grocery stores, retail outlets and convenience stores. The conventional household name Ziploc consumer brand became a franchise and was launched and marketed also the same year which was 1968. However, it took a few years before the product could really gain/stand any grounds. During the early 1970’s the brand bag was really popular and it was used by all and sundry for different purposes ranging from; storing sandwiches for lunch to the transportation of pets.
Chapter 3: Benefits Of Ziplock Pouch
The ziplock pouch has numerous benefits, but the key benefits would be discussed here and they include:
- Packing
- Storing
- Piping
- Pounding
- Icing injuries
- Freezing
- Crushing
- Kneading
- Lunch
- Marinating
One wonderful feature about Ziplock pouch is that they come in a different array of sizes, designs, and styles which make them think the go-to tool for packing and organizing items in any household or office. When making preparations for trips or vacations, often more than not, a suitcase or traveling bag is always is unarranged and this turns it into a mess and makes it look unattractive. Put into consideration, arranging belongings into their separate classes such as; undergarments, beach wears, cosmetics, office clothing, pharmaceuticals, electronics etc. Then each category are later packed into their individual pouch. This will give room for easy and quick access to personal items more efficiently and effectively. Not to talk about security at the baggage section which would become less strenuous because each item have been wonderfully and dutifully arranged into their own designated space.
Keeping/items storage is another benefit in which end/final users enjoy from Ziplock pouch. Items such as art supplies, hair accessories, toys, tools which are always ought to be kept neat and organized often don’t turn out that way. The major key to avoiding having a disorganized household or office space is to make sure that an easily accessible storage space is designated to each of these mentioned items and many more and making sure that they are all organized into their appropriately sized ziplock pouch.
Making use of an appropriate ziplock pouch for pastry tools which are used for decorating cakes. It should not be new to anyone when people say pastry bags are always difficult to clean because frosting used for baking contains some ingredients which always leaves a greasy film inside the pouch. To eradicate this mess, the fillings inside should be scooped into a plastic bag and the small piece of the end corners should be snipped off. Now there would be no worries in decorating baked goods.
Placing food contents such as chicken, meat, veal or pork cutlets into a ziplock pouch and then sealing it off tightly and then using a meat mallet to hit the packaged foods is what is known as pounding. Why not get ahead and prepare your meat ahead of each meal and have them stored in your freezer or refrigerator and have zero worries as ziplock pouch retains freshness, nutrients, and flavor until the items are set to be used.
More often than not, injuries occur in either household or workplace, but the availability of Ziplock pouch makes everything easier as it can be converted into an ice pack when it’s filled with ice to work on injuries and it should be put into consideration to make different sizes of ice packs to accommodate different needs.
Washing, drying, and freezing of herbs can be done using the Ziplock pouch. This pouch would help preserve the herbs while keeping freezer burns in check. This is a perfect way to have herbs readily available for that hot winter stew, soups and some potatoes.
Crushing of pretzels, nuts and crackers can be done using ziplock pouch. This is a not a difficult task to achieve. It can be done by placing these items into the pouch and making use of a meat mallet or the rear of a spoon to mash them. Though Ziplock pouch can be termed to be fragile they are quite tough also because of the components used to make them which would be discussed later.
Most time, people find kneading has gross and messy but ziplock pouch has provided a way out. This is by inserting the dough into a ziplock pouch sealing the pouch tightly to make sure all the trapped air gets released and then commence kneading. This is a great alternative which prevents fingers from getting messy and table from getting covered in flour.
This is one of the most common benefits enjoyed by end users though it is a classic. This is done by making use of sandwich branded ziplock pouch and loads of parents and people trust this pouch to keep their foods safe, hot or cold, fresh and it would not lose its nutrients no matter the length of time it spends in the pouch before getting consumed.
Ziplock pouch can help in marinating meat and help to store them I’m the fridge till there is use or need for them. This would help the meat infuse more of the marinade into itself and how to give a tastier meal.
Chapter 4: What To Consider When Going For Ziplock Pouch.
There are various uses of a ziplock pouch, generally, zip lock pouches are used to protect, preserve and store items from air, moist, germs and other factors. It should be noted that there is a limit to the contents in which a spout pouch can take and this could be due to some mitigating factors such as; quality, quantity, shape of the ziplock pouch and the contents itself.
Quality: The quality of items that are enclosed in the ziplock pouch would determine whether a ziplock pouch is needed or not. If the item is not quality enough for it to warrant a ziplock pouch as its form of packaging and a simple cellophane is enough to protect such item from what it needs protecting from
Quantity: There are some items that are either too large or too little for it to be put in a ziplock pouch. This is another factor that would determine if a ziplock pouch is needed.
The shape of the Pouch: The shape of the ziplock pouch goes a long way in determining if it is needed or not. There is some ziplock pouch that needs to come in handy but the contents do not require a handy packaging but a rigid one.
Contents itself: The contents itself is what the ziplock pouch is actually housing. This can be said to be the major determinant of whether a ziplock pouch is needed or not. This should be considered first when determining the type of packaging to use whether rigid or flexible, whether zip lock or spout pouch. For instance, liquid contents cannot make use of Ziplock pouch.
Financial capability: The customer has to consider his/ her financial capability before deciding the type of packaging style to go for. This factor should be the second when things to consider are being discussed.
Chapter 5: Types Of Ziplock Pouches.
Whenever Ziplock pouch are getting classified, it should be noted that there are three types or classifications of stand up ziplock pouch which are recommended for CPG brands and they include;
- Single track
- Slide Zipper
- Velcro Brand
The above-mentioned ziplock pouch are an excellent way to make packaging easier to open and reclose. However, the kind of ziplock to select all centers on decision making. In deciding the type of Ziplock which is best for product and application, the three types must be explained thoroughly.
Velcro by Zippak
SINGLE-TRACK ZIPPER.
This type of ziplock pouch has a very common name which it is also called and that is the “male-and-female” track, this is the commonly used type of the three type of ziplock. Each side of the track must align together and connect to create a tight seal. This kind of closure is not evident in a sliding ziplock pouch, instead, it comes with two tracks which snap in one place.
This kind of ziplock pouch can be said to be the standard ziplock sandwich bag closure. The bag would be filled with its contents, squeezed tightly to let out the air, then slide fingers and thumb over the top so that the two sides of the pouch can join together and stay shut. This ziplock is more secure than making use of a reusable tape or a tin tie and it can all be added up to stand up pouches so as to create a stronger seal which works to prevent leakages, spillages, and staleness.
USES OF ZIPLOCK POUCHES
- Makes room for convenient recloseability
- It protects the freshness and nutrients of products for end users
- There are higher chances of original package retention, the brand always in sight of end users.
- Protects against spillage, contamination, spoilage, and breakage.
Ziplock pouches make room for easy and convenient recloseability because ziplock pouch can be reckoned after the first use. Opening a ziplock pouch for the very first time does not mean that the pouch would later become useless and the end user need not go through lots of stress before sealing the pouch again.
Ziplock pouch helps protect the freshness and nutrients of the contents for end users. This can be described as one of the major features of ziplock pouches as once sealed, nothing can ever get into and get out of the pouch. Not even air.
The chances of original package retention are extremely high when making use of ziplock pouch because the pouch is not disposed of after the first use and it can always be cleaned to retain the original package.
There is a lesser chance of things like spillages, contamination, spoilage, and breakage because these are the issues in which ziplock pouch was setup to achieve and it as been successfully doing that since its inception.
SLIDE ZIPPER
There is not much to say regarding slide zipper, but it would be discussed here. This is a highly requested zipper among stand up pouch zippers, the closure provides includes a fitment made with plastic that slides forward and backward across an already available track to join both sides of the pouch together and then close the top firmly. Another version of this zipper style is used with patented child-resistant exit pouch, the lock however on this type of pouch package was intentionally made difficult to get into because it has to do with kids.
The standard go-to slide zipper pouch is quite easy to open and close unlike that patented child-resistant exit pouch, and it also eliminates the alarming problem of having to tear the pouch because there is no presence of tug and pull on both sides to get the package open.
VELCRO ZIPLOCK
The latest and most innovative method to close ziplock pouch is the velcro ziplock. The velcro lock is rapidly increasing to stand out as one of the most desirable type of ziplock pouch for companies in various and either related or unrelated industries. The distinct hook-and-loop closure is the best solution for nice contents in the pouch. Items such as powder, grains, flour or chemicals which could get trapped in the grooves of traditional zippers.
Making use of a press-lock mechanism which is kind of similar to regular zip locks, this type of closure allows for bags to be resealed by gently pushing both sides of the bag together to produce a seal which could be opened and closed numerous times. Comparing velcro to the standard track zipper, this technique makes use of the fabric hook-and-loop fasteners. It is normal to see all sorts of products from shoes, vests to medical supplies and other commodities.
The Velcro style of ziplock pouch offers easy usage and makes sure freshness and preservation of contents of the pouch is of top priority. The closure system is always functional whether it comes in contact with either granular or fine products, and this is because the hooks would end up closing, comparing this to other forms of existing closure system which can become obstructed and nonfunctional whenever it comes in contact with well granulated particles. One of the latest innovative products in flexible packaging technology is Velcro. It should also be noted that it is an ideal solution for items/contents which are consumed overtime.
HOW VELCRO FASTENER WORKS
The technology behind velcro is used by not only velcro, it is also used by different plants which aids in the Spreading of their seeds. There are some plants that have their seeds encased in shillings with hook-like burrs, or spines which can cling to furs and also clothing materials. Velcro works by combining two particles of materials, one which has a surface of fairly rigid plastic hooks and another one which is embedded with a surface of thinner wispy loops of plastic in which their hooks would cling to whenever the panels are firmly pressed up against one another. This gives room for very quick, secure fastening and release. Most times, Velcro is used for children’s shoes, that might not actually know how to knot the shoes and as straps on different devices such as vests, baggage, braces and backpacks. The hook and loop fasteners have grown to become an everyday type of technology.
The major advantage of Velcro over other form of fastening techniques is how easy it is to fasten and remove. The only thing needed to do is to press the hook panel surface against the loop surface and that is how velcro is fastened. To remove velcro, an individual simply needs to pull back on the surface to rip them apart. This means fastening and removal of velcro is quite faster than that of other fastening techniques such as buttons, zippers and it is also refastened easily when it is in use. Velcro is also children friendly because of its ease of usage. It should be noted that the bonding strength of Velcro does not fail nor decline from much repeated use.
Chapter 6: Regulatory Compliance
Most of the bag bans available, helps to regulate the thickness of bag materials in mils. However, there is a major problem and that is the fact that most individuals do not know what a mil is. An engineer ought to know what a mil is, but other percentage of individuals might not know what it means and would need some help in understanding it.
A mil can easily be understood as a thousandth of an inch. It is of general knowledge that any measurements which is less than 1/8 of an inch are too small to see, however, they are often felt.
In USA, California to be precise, there is a legal standard which is set at 2.25 mil for a plastic bag. There are cities that allow their bags to get a little bit thinner than that. While some require the bags to be a little but smaller. It all depends on preference. However a separate form of measurement is used for plastic bags and that is GSM. only film bags made with plastic sheeting and does not have the feature of breathing and are so thin that mils becomes an invalid measurement. Also in California, the minimum weight for fabric bags is 80 GSM.
Chapter 7: How Pouch Making Machines Work
Pouch filling or pouch packing machines is an example of packaging equipment type which fills pre-made pouches with materials and then seals them off. Pouch filling and sealing machines come in two major varieties which are the; Rotary and inline. The rotary layout would be explicitly explained in this article.
Rotary Layout machine design is designed to conserve valuable plant floor space and is designed with top-notch simplicity packaging.
For the initial stage, rotary pouch making machines are loaded with pre-made bags. There can be a minimum of one bag and a maximum of four infeed ‘lanes’. The most popular model is the single lane model also known as the Simplex model. Model upgrading to that with additional lanes is necessary when throughput needs cannot be met with a single bag infeed.
Below is a video of how to filling ziplock pouch:
CHATPER 8. Environmentally Friendly
Ziplock pouches are friendly to the environment because they do not cause any health hazard and also, they do not negatively affect the environmental system. Some of the reasons why Ziplock Pouch are environmentally friendly are explained below.
- Cost-effective: As compared to traditional synthetic packaging, ziplock pouch bags reduce production cost and are more durable.
- Easy Storage: ziplock pouch bags are compact units. Since they come in handy, they fit in everywhere. They can even be hung on the wall or kept in drawers, shelves without taking much space.
- Recyclable: Unlike plastic cans, ziplock pouch are totally recyclable and this reduces waste creation and also helps to save cost.
All these above-mentioned factors make ziplock pouch bags an attractive alternative packaging option.
Chapter 9: Avoidable Mistakes When Ordering Ziplock Pouch
Whenever order is made for ziplock pouch, most end users are used to ziplock pouch with a single-track lock which gets into position whenever both sides of the topmost layer of the pouch are knuckled together. Among all stand up pouch zippers, this is the most common and most used. Though it is the most common and most used, it does not mean it is the most appropriate option for all products. Also, there are cases where by end users order for inexpensive ziplock pouches from large online flexible packaging companies. Just to find out the quality of the ordered pouch is extremely cheap, and the zipper of the ziplock pouch does not go in line and does not close up effectively.
Before making orders, it is really and extremely crucial to request for samples and prototypes of the packaging ordered before just to acknowledge the quality of the ziplock pouch and carry out several quality control tests to make sure the functions of the pouch correlate correctly with that of the intended contents. The bottom and side gussets of the ziplock pouch should protect it’s contents and not just that, the zipper used for the pouch must be of the topmost/ high quality and must stay closed without any breakage, leakage or malfunctions. Whenever packaging is ordered for, the last thing any end user wants for his/herself is a faulty zipper or zip lock which would allow pests to get into the bag, or to have an experience of product spillage because of a faulty zipper which refused to stay shut.
Chapter 10: How Are Ziplock Pouch Bags Made?
People often wonder the processes involved in making Ziplock Pouches. This very chapter would break that down for easy understanding. There is a particular type of plastic called polyethylene. This polyethylene plastic is melted down to a pliable state. After which it is then poured into a mold which is quite thin, that is in the size, shape and design of the bag being made. The bags closures are separately made in different molds out of plastic that is quite stronger and thicker. Closure tracks are the next stage which are then transfixed to the lips of the pouch. There is a little tweaking/difference in making ziplock pouch bags. These bags as well offer the service of zipper closure bag and they have a plastic slider zipper used to push the lips of the bags open and also to fasten them shut.
The zipper closure works like tracks on each lip of the bag, and connects them together like puzzle pieces. These tracks are divided into the male and female tracks. The male track locks into the female track fastening closed and it requires a tug to be opened again. The closure is so durable that the pouch could be held irregularly and the contents would not fall out because the zipper closure refuses to give way.
Conclusion
From the day ziplock pouch came into existence in form of pencil bags, for use in loose leaf binders to the different uses available in this modern world, it would be an impossible task to start listing the current applications, uses and benefits. Life without ziplock bags now seems improbable not impossible.
Although it is very common to find common but few sizes of end users retail zip lock bags, at every grocery store or convenience store, it is rare to discover a large supplier who is willing, ready and has the resources at hand to deliver a huge quantity as big as 300+ stock sizes and unlimited customization made recloseable Ziplock bag options. There are however huge institutions and companies that are available to provide for recloseable ziplock pouch needs. At the same shipping rates, low price guarantee and unwavering customer service.